EPA v. R.V.HOPKINS, INC., DAVENPORT, IA

Case summary

R.V. HOPKINS (RVH) HAS BEEN IN OPERATION AS A DRUM RECONDITIONER AT 743 SCHMIDT ROAD, DAVENPORT, IA SINCE 1964. RVH PURCHASES EMPTY DRUMS AND EITHER RECONDITIONS THEM AND RESELLS THEM, OR CRUSHES THEM AND SELLS THE CRUSHED METAL FOR SCRAP. RVH HAS OPERATED AS A TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITY ALTHOUGH IT HAS NEVER ACHIEVED INTERIM STATUS NOR HAS IT BEEN GRANTED A PERMIT. THE ANALYTICAL RESULTS OF SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE FACILITY INDICATE THAT HAZARDOUS WASTES OR HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS HAVE MIGRATED TO GROUNDWATER, AND HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND ARE PRESENT IN THE SOIL. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE PRESENCE OF CHROMIUM AND LEAD AT HIGH LEVELS IN THE SOILS. ONE AREA OF SIGNIFICANT CONCERN AT THE FACILITY IS THE LANDFILL WHICH USED TO BE A QUARRY AND WHICH WAS FILLED FROM APPROXIMATELY 1940 TO 1980. THE LANDFILL IS APPROXIMATELY 550 FEET LONG BY 200 FEET WIDE BY 60 FEET DEEP. CAUSTIC WASTE, TIRES, SHINGLES, ACIDS, METALS, BATTERIES, PAINT PIGMENTS, AND OTHER WASTES WERE DUMPED INTO THE LANDFILL. EPA'S OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE RVH INVESTIGATE AND CLEAN UP THE REMAINING CONTAMINATION AT THE FACILITY PURSUANT TO THE CORRECTIVE ACTION AUTHORITY OF SECTION 3008(H) OF RCRA. RVH AND EPA ATTEMPTED TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF A FINAL ORDER WITH RVH WITHOUT SUCCESS. EPA SENT THIS PRE-REFERRAL TO REQUEST DOJ'S ASSISTANCE NEGOTIATING WITH RVH IN THIS MATTER.

Defendants (2)

• R.V.HOPKINS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• RICHARD V. HOPKINSNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• HOPKINS R V INC

  743 SCHMIDT RD, DAVENPORT, IA, 52802

  Registry ID: 110000415961

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3008H — Interim Status Corrective Action Order

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• R.V. HOPKINS, INCentered 2000-11-03

  Primary law: RCRA

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1994-06-02Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1997-12-23Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2000-11-03Final Order Entered
• 2000-11-03Final Order Lodged
• 2000-11-03Complaint Filed With Court
• 2002-12-31Enforcement Action Closed
• 2002-12-31Pipeline Closed